nba Page 709 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

NFC Wild Card Open Thread: Packers-Cardinals
Kurt Warner could hang it up after this one. Meanwhile, we're getting unsubstantiated chain letters about Aaron Rodgers giving 100 disadvantaged kids Christmas presents. Which beloved quarterback shall rule them all? Discuss it here....

Sixers Have Something For Everyone, Except Basketball Fans
Philly hired a VH1 reality show host to give lonely fans dating advice, and next week sees a postgame concert from noted NBA player favorite Matisyahu. The Iverson sideshow's not moving as many tickets as hoped, methinks. [NBA/NBA]...

They're Just Mining Your Childhood For Ideas Now
LeBron and Dwight Howard have teamed up to film an update of the landmark McDonald's HORSE commercial. Spoiler: the game ends when Howard is unable to hit a free throw five times in a row....

The NBA Tackles The Real Problem
The Nets take the lead in what could be a league-wide crackdown on gambling on team flights. Remember kids, guns don't kill people; Boo-Ray kills people. [NYT]...

Isiah Still Has Powerful Friends, For Some Reason
Magic Johnson's request for Knicks tickets was denied because of his very public criticism of Isiah Thomas. If trashing Isiah precluded attendance, the Knicks would be playing in an empty arena. [NY Daily News]...

Crittenton Cocked And Loaded? Arenas Taking The Fall?
When Gilbert got suspended indefinitely with no word on any punishment for Javaris Crittenton, it raised a ton of questions. Now comes word that this "practical joke" might have been scarier than reported; and Arenas might be covering Crittenton's ass....

"I Like To Fight In The Nude" - Behind Kobe Bryant Deathmatch Fiction
What if Kobe and LeBron fought to the death? We go inside the mind of the man who's played out that scenario in gory, hilarious detail....

Jayson Williams Probably Shouldn't Leave The House
The former Nets center, who is free on bail awaiting a new trial stemming from that messy dead limo driver situation, was accused of drunkenly driving his SUV into a tree last night around 3:15 a.m by (karma) police. [NYP]...

<em>Forbes</em> Wins The Race To Declare NBA Players "Thugs"
And there it is, right on time. "Many NBA players carry guns and the league is full of thugs," according to something called Michael Ozanian, national editor at Forbes, of all places....

If Anyone Went To Chaminade Prep School With David Lee Of The New York Knicks...
Please contact me at [email protected]. A "project" is afoot. If the reporter who told me about this story at the bar One and One last week is reading this, please email me as well. Teamwork! [NBAbiopage]...

Arenas-Crittenton Standoff Just A Hilarious Inside Joke Gone Awry
Everyone is still trying to make sense of the Washington Bullets' (redux) guns-a-blazin' locker room showdown, but according to the latest version it simply resulted from a misinterpreted zinger about attempted murder. Some people have no sense of humor....

The Wild, Wacky Week Of (And Potential Wasting Wamifications For) One Gilbert Arenas
I think we can all agree that the sports world is a more interesting place with an active Gilbert Arenas in it. And the past few days have been wonderful reminders why. But alas, such days may be numbered....

Video From LeBron James's 25th Birthday Party
HEAR the young superstar swear at the DJ to turn the music back on! WATCH as he displays dancing prowess that would make Joakim Noah's head explode! OBSERVE his Kirby Puckett-shaped bodyguard shadow his every groove-busting move!...

Truth-Squadding Kobe Bryant's "Broken" Finger
Via Bethlehem Shoals comes this stark piece of cinema, in which a brave truth-teller goes all Loose Change on Kobe Bryant's finger and informs us, among other things, that Bryant's "stupid avulsion fracture isn't even a real 'break.'" Video below....

Mets Win Jason Bay Sweepstakes, Capping Glorious 2009
Mike Francesa broke the news (really?) that Jason Bay is going to the Mets, pending his turn-and-cough with the doctors. Yay, for legit sports news! (Also, the Giants, worried about appearing too youthful, signed 34-year-old Mark DeRosa.) [DailyNews/AP]...

Once Bitten, Twice Lie
Aaron Rodgers says a Seahawks player bit him when they played last year. Darryl Tapp denies it. This is news because we have to manufacture interest in a Green Bay/Seattle game somehow....

Pat Riley Preferred to Parcel Out Looks of Disdain
Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra dubbed himself "Santa Spo" and "presented players with a vocabulary calendar and the book The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work and Team with Positive Energy." Merry ... Christmas? [Miami Herald]...

In Which We Honor Christmas By Watching Basketball
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name: "Now, Heatsicles! Now, Knickerbockers! Now, Celtics and Magic! On, Kobe! On, LeBron! On, games on later that seem oh-so-tragic!" So please, talk amongst yourselves as Mariah Carey loops all afternoon....

Armed Agent Zero Confuses Wizards With Bullets
We interrupt your Christmas caroling for this: Gilbert Arenas is under NBA investigation for stashing firearms in his locker. Apparently, that might violate the league's gun policy. Plus, Washington D.C. owns strict anti-gun laws. What's the excuse?...

Ray Allen Is Having Some Issues With Twitter
Followers of Ray Allen's Twitter account must have been shocked by the sudden X-rated turn that his tweets took last night—a brief, masturbation-filled snafu that he blames on hackers....